Hyundai maps future tech at CES
BY DANIEL GARDNER | 6th Jan 2015
The South Korean car-maker is showcasing a variety of new transportation technology designed to make driving safer, more convenient and more enjoyable with autonomous driving systems, driver assistance kit and an updated Blue Link smartwatch connectivity system all on display at the show.
Many of the new Hyundai systems rely on increasingly powerful internet cloud-based technology which has been developed with United States information distribution powerhouses.
From tomorrow, visitors to the North American technology show can witness developments to in-car kit that will be appearing in vehicles in the coming years, including Hyundai's Advanced Driverless Assistance System (ADAS), which can take over from the driver in a variety of situations.
Freeway cruising is handled by lane guidance and variable speed control but the system can also maintain control in more hazardous and changeable urban environments.
Vehicle to pedestrian (V2P) monitoring keeps an eye on the movements of people around the car and can avoid collisions with pedestrians, the vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) function receives information from traffic signals and speed signs, while vehicle to vehicle tech (V2V) shares information with other cars equipped with the system.
The same host of cameras and sensors also aids drivers with low speed maneuvers, assisting with parking and even guiding the car through tight gaps.
Further driver assistance systems will also be on display – literally – with Hyundai's latest development of head-up display technology rolled-out for the public.
Many vehicles already have technology that projects information onto the windscreen preventing the driver from needing to look away from the road, but the new Hyundai system presents even more information with animations and information imposed over the real objects ahead.
Warnings and information appears over the various objects to which they specifically relate, allowing the driver to respond to hazards faster.
The various new systems can also be linked to wearable technology through the latest version of Hyundai's Blue Link connectivity system and warnings can be repeated through vibrations from a wrist-band. Even the driver's heart rate can be monitored.
Wearable technology can also connect the driver to the vehicle when it is parked, with the latest smartwatch devices capable of communicating with both first and second generations of the Blue Link system.
Downloading the latest version of the Blue Link smartphone application will allow Hyundai owners to perform a selection of remote control functions from a paired smartwatch.
In hot or cold weather the vehicle can be started to cool or heat the cabin prior to entry, doors can be locked or unlocked, and if the car is lost in a busy car park for example, the lights can be flashed or horn sounded to help locate the car.
The new technology also has voice control capability and commands can be simply spoken to the car after pressing the microphone symbol on a smartwatch's touch-sensitive face.
The car-maker has developed the technology in conjunction with major communications manufacturers including Samsung, Motorola, Sony and LG, but iPhone maker Apple does not get a mention.
Finally, a new gesture control system will also be on-stage at the show demonstrating a method of controlling vehicle functions without contact.
Cameras monitor hand-movements and can recognise several different commands for selecting navigation, entertainment and comfort options, further reducing driver distraction.
At this stage the Hyundai technology featuring at the show is only compatible with vehicles in north America but it is expected as production versions roll out, the systems will be configured for the various global regions.
As vehicles become ever more dependent on electronic, cloud and web-based technologies, the Las Vegas venue is rapidly becoming a popular stage for car manufacturers to show off the latest gear instead of more traditional car shows.
Last year major brands such as Audi, Kia and Ford all chose the event to debut a wide range of new technology from laser diode headlights to entertainment improvements and alternative energy.
